Hostage ransom missing

From the Manila Standard Today (Feb 6): Hostage ransom missing

P30m to free Atyani lost in transit

A bungled delivery of P30 million ransom to terrorists in exchange for the release of kidnapped Jordanian journalist ignited a fierce gunbattle with Muslim rebels in the jungles of Patikul, Sulu, in which 22 combatants were killed, rebel leaders said on Tuesday.

Khaber Sampang, head of the Special Branch Service of the Moro National Liberation Front said the fighting broke out last Saturday during a confrontation with the Abu Sayyaf on the release of Jordanian journalist Baker Atyani and two Filipino television crews. “One word led to another and shots were fired,” Sampang said.

President Aquino said the government did not sanction the attack launched by the MNLF and directed the armed forces and the Philippine National Police to “contain” the fighting and prevent a spillover outside the Patikul area.

“Our first priority is securing the civilians who might be caught up in the conflict areas,” Aquino said.

The ransom money, which was funded by an unidentified Jordanian official, was “lost in transit” and it was a major factor that prolonged the captivity of Atyani and the other hostages.

The two Filipinos were freed but the Abu Sayyaf held on to Atyani, who was abducted in June 2012 when he went into the jungles to do a story on the terrorist group. The MNLF, which has entered into an autonomy agreement with the government, has interceded for the release of the hostages.

After a lull in the fighting to bury their dead, the MNLF has mobilized thousands of troops for a new assault on the terrorist groups led by Radullan Sahiron in Mt. Sinuman.

Sampang said three gunmen wearing hoods intercepted a courier and two women, who were sent to deliver the ransom to the Abu Sayyaf last August and “up to now we don’t know what happened to the money.”

“We suspect that the armed men belong to the Abu Sayyaf, but we still have to determine it,” Sampang said.

He said both sides were angry at the disappearance of the ransom money and when the the MNLF went into the Abu Sayyaf stronghold to demand release of the hostages, it resulted into a gunbattle.


Emmanuel Fontanilla, the MNLF spokesman, said they were negotiating the delivery of Atyani and the other hostages to MNLF chairman Nur Misuari but “nagkaroon ng intriga and nagkaroon ng misunderstanding.”

“The negotiation was that Atyani would be delivered to the chairman (Misuari) but unforunately the chairman was not around and another party came into the picture, which makes the negotiation very complicated,” Fontanilla said.

“Kung wala sana itong third party na nagpalabo sa usapan, wala sanang nangyari kaguluhan,” he said.

Atyani was working for Dubai-based Al-Arabiya TV, who went into the jungles with two Filipino crews, Ramelito Vela and Rolando Letrero, to do a story on the Abu Sayyaf.

The two Filipinos were released on Saturday night hours before the gunbattle broke out involving 300 MNLF fighters and more than 200 Abu Sayyaf bandits, but reports of casualties varied with up to 50 dead, but officials placed it at 22.

“We’ve only five wounded and four fatalities. The Abu Sayyaf suffered 11 fatalities. Iyung mga balitang may napugutan ng ulo ay walang confirmation,” Fontanilla said.

Fontanilla said he was confident that the Abu Sayyaf will eventually turn over Atyani to Misuari, who is now in Egypt, despite the hostilities between the two groups.

“Ang plano namin ay hintayin si Chairman kasi siya ang nirerespeto sa area, Moro Islamic Liberation Front man o Abu Sayyaf pati na ang gobyerno. Baka sa kalagitnaan ng February ang balik niya. Sa ngayon nasa Egypt para sa isang conference,” Fontanilla said.

Misuari is a candidate for governor of the Autonomouis Region in Muslim Mindanao. He is running against ARMM officer-in-charge Mujiv Hataman of the president’s Liberal Party and former Sultan Kudarat Rep. Pakung Mangudadatu of the United Nationalist Alliance.

Col. Orlando de Leon, Commander of the 2nd Marine Brigade, said troops were stationed in the area to avert spillover of the conflict to adjacent areas.

“Iniikutan sila ng mga tropa para hinde sila lumabas sa conflict areas at wala sila madamay na mga civilians. Doon lang sila kung saan sila nag-aaway,” De Leon said.

“I have instructions that the wounded should be accommodated in our hospital for treatment, whether Abu Sayyaf or MNLF, as mandated by International Humanitarian Law,” De Leon said.

http://manilastandardtoday.com/2013/02/06/hostage-ransom-missing/